Method and apparatus for securing cables and the like

ABSTRACT

In combination, a conventional cable tie and a cable encircling member having a width exceeding the width of the cable tie. The cable encircling member has an opening extending between upper and lower surfaces thereof. The free end of the cable tie tail is inserted from the upper surface of the cable engaging member through the opening and the tail of the cable tie is dressed along the lower surface of the cable engaging member such that the free end of the cable tie extends outwardly of an end of the cable encircling member. Conductors to be ensnared are now laid upon the upper surface of the cable encircling member. The free end of the cable tie tail is now inserted into the head of the cable tie forming the cable encircling member into a spiral coil loosely encircling the conductors. The free end of the cable tie is now pulled beyond the cable tie head until the spiral coil moves into tightly encircling relation with the conductors.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to securement apparatus andmethods and pertains more particularly to securement apparatus usingso-called “cable ties”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For many years, the electrical cable industry has had the benefit ofcable ties to encircle and ensnare groupings of conductors. Applicant'sU.S. Pat. Nos. 3,022,557 and 3,047,945, now expired, respectively showexamples of cable ties and tensioning apparatus for use in assemblingcable ties and conductor groupings. As shown in these patents, cableties are typically molded plastic members having a head portion and atail portion extending from the head portion to a free end. The headportion typically includes a pawl member extending into a tail portionpassage extending fully through the head portion. The tail portion isrouted about the conductors to be ensnared and has serrations on one orboth outer surfaces thereof designed to pass by the pawl member underthe pulling pressure of a person or a pulling tool, the pawl retentivelyengaging the serrations to form a cable tie loop tightly encircling theconductors.

In more recent years, the benefit of cable ties has spread to opticalconductors, i.e., optical fibers. In such applications, however, thereis concern for binding pressure of the cable ties interfering withsignal transmission through the optical conductors. The use of thecustomary cable tie and tensioning device is problematic in thisrespect, placing such pressure on the optical conductors as to changecharacteristics thereof and interfere with desired signal transmissiontherein.

To overcome this problem, the industry has looked to so-called “hook andloop” type fasteners, currently sold under brand names such asGET-A-GRIP, Velchro and Aplix, all of which are registered trademarks.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,371 B1 discloses forms of hook and loop fastenersand indicates difficulties attendant on hook and loop fastenerstheretofore known.

One such difficulty is referred to as “notch sensitivity”, i.e., apronounced tendency to tear in one or more directions when a base filmof the fastener is notched or nicked, the tearing propagating betweenrows of hooks.

Other difficulties include the stiffness or flex modulus of the backingmaterial or base film and the thickness of the backing material. Thisprecludes winding the fastener into a tight radius as is required in thebundling of small items, e.g., groups of optical fibers. This also givesrise to the fastener contributing substantially to the overall diameterof the bundled goods, defeating use thereof in areas where space is at apremium.

Another difficulty is that high flex modulus contributes to flagging,i.e., the tendency of the fastener to decouple from itself at theterminal end of the mating surfaces. Flagging also is said to give riseto a cavity in the fastener in which external contaminants canaccumulate and contribute to a decrease in the integrity of the couplingafter repeated uses.

Further, high flex modulus fasteners also conform more poorly tosurfaces that they are wrapped around, making them more prone toslippage, since less of the fastener surface is in contact with thesubstrate. Moreover, where the fastener conforms so poorly to thesurfaces of the bundled goods, the stress applied to the bundled goodsis not evenly distributed. In the case of delicate goods, such asoptical fibers, this may result in cracking or breaking of theindividual fibers or in signal distortion.

Hook and loop fasteners, lastly, due to the bulk thereof, are morecostly on a materials basis than conventional cable ties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has, as its primary object, the provision of cableties having adaptivity to applications presently served by hook and loopfasteners, e.g., the bundling of optical conductors.

A more particular object of the present invention is to afford methodand apparatus for providing improved control of pressure conditions ineffecting cable tie assemblies of electrical or optical conductors.

In attaining this and other objects, the invention provides, in oneaspect, apparatus comprising a cable tie and structure cooperativetherewith for providing such improved pressure conditions in theassemblies of cable ties and electrical or optical conductors.

More particularly, the invention provides in such one aspect, incombination, a conventional cable tie and a cable encircling memberhaving a width exceeding the width of the cable tie. The cableencircling member has an opening extending between upper and lowersurfaces thereof. The free end of the cable tie tail is inserted fromthe upper surface of the cable engaging member through the opening andthe tail of the cable tie is dressed along the lower surface of thecable engaging member such that the free end of the cable tie extendsoutwardly of an end of the cable encircling member.

Conductors to be ensnared are now laid upon the upper surface of thecable encircling member. The free end of the cable tie tail is nowinserted into the head of the cable tie forming the cable encirclingmember into a spiral coil loosely encircling the conductors. The freeend of the cable tie is now pulled beyond the cable tie head until thespiral coil moves into tightly encircling relation with the conductors.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention and the variousstructures of the further member will be further understood from thefollowing detailed description of preferred embodiments and practices ofthe invention and from the drawings wherein like components areidentified by like reference numerals.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a conventional cable tie.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a cable encirclingmember in accordance with the invention for assembly with the FIG. 1cable tie.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an initial assembly of the components ofFIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a final assembly of the components ofFIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is perspective view of a conventional cable tie.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a cableencircling member in accordance with the invention for assembly with theFIG. 5 cable tie.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an initial assembly of the components ofFIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a final assembly of the components ofFIGS. 5 and 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, conventional cable tie 10 includes a head portion12 and a tail portion 14 contiguous with head portion 12 and extendingto tail portion free end 16. Serrations (not shown) are formed on eitheror both of top and bottom sides 18 and 20 of tail portion 14. Headportion 12 includes pawl 22 extending into through passage 24. As isknown, pawl 22 may be a plastic member integrally formed with cable tie10 or may be a metal member.

Turning to FIG. 2, cable encircling member 26 is preferably a thin,flexible, rectangular strip of plastic material, having upper surface 28and lower surface 30. Opening 32 extends between upper surface 28 andlower surface 30 and is of configuration facilitating passage of tailportion free end 16 through cable encircling member 26.

Referring to FIG. 3, it shows an initial assembly of the components ofFIGS. 1 and 2, wherein tail portion free end 16 has been passed throughopening 32 and tail portion 14 is dressed along the lower surface 30 ofcable encircling member 26, the components being configured such thattail portion free end 16 is disposed outwardly of end 26a of cableencircling member 26.

Conductors (not shown) to be ensnared are now laid upon upper surface 28of cable encircling member 26. Turning to FIG. 4, free end 16 of cabletie tail portion 14 is now inserted into head portion 12 of cable tie 10forming cable encircling member 26 into a spiral coil loosely encirclingthe conductors. The free end 16 of cable tie 10 is now pulled beyondcable tie head portion 12, to the left in FIG. 4 until the spiral coilmoves into tightly encircling relation with the conductors.

Aperture 34 is formed in cable encircling member 26 and a screw or bolt(not shown) may be passed through the aperture to secure the FIG. 4assembly to a mounting plate.

Referring to FIG. 5, conventional cable tie 110 includes a head portion112 and a tail portion 114 contiguous with head portion 112 andextending to tail portion free end 116. Serrations (not shown) areformed on either or both of top and bottom sides 118 and 120 of tailportion 114. Head portion 112 includes pawl 122 extending into throughpassage 124. As is known, pawl 122 may be a plastic member integrallyformed with cable tie 110 or may be a metal member.

Turning to FIG. 6, cable encircling member 126 is preferably a thin,flexible, rectangular strip of plastic material, having upper surface128 and lower surface 130. Opening 132 is formed by cutting slitsthrough upper surface 128 and lower surface 130 and raising portion 126′above upper surface 128 and is of configuration facilitating passage oftail portion free end 116 through cable encircling member 126.

Referring to FIG. 7, it shows an initial assembly of the components ofFIGS. 5 and 6, wherein tail portion free end 116 has been passed throughopening 132 and tail portion 114 is dressed along upper surface 128 ofcable encircling member 126, the components being configured such thattail portion free end 116 is disposed outwardly of end 126a of cableencircling member 126.

The initial assembly of FIG. 7 is now inverted from its therein showndisposition such that lower surface 130 becomes the upper surface ofcable encircling member 126. Conductors (not shown) to be ensnared arenow disposed on surface 130 of cable encircling member 126. Turning toFIG. 8, free end 116 of cable tie tail portion 114 is now inserted intohead portion 112 of cable tie 110 forming cable encircling member 126into a spiral coil loosely encircling the conductors. The free end 116of cable tie 110 is now pulled beyond cable tie head portion 112, to theleft in FIG. 8 until the spiral coil moves into tightly encirclingrelation with the conductors.

By way of summary of the foregoing and introduction to the ensuingclaims, the invention will be seen, in its apparatus aspect, to provideapparatus for bundling conductors, comprising:

-   -   (a) a cable tie having a head and a strap extending from the        head to a strap free end; and    -   (b) a cable encircling member having a width exceeding a width        of the cable tie strap,    -   the cable tie being assembled with the cable encircling member        and forming the cable encircling member into a spiral coil        interiorly of the cable tie and encircling the conductors.

In one embodiment, the cable encircling member defines an apertureextending between first and second outer surfaces of the cableencircling member, the cable tie strap being resident in the aperture.In such one embodiment, the cable tie strap encircles the second outersurface of the cable encircling member and the first outer surface is inengagement with the conductors.

In another embodiment, the cable encircling member defines a passageextending along a first outer surface of the cable encircling member,the cable tie strap being resident in the passage. In such otherembodiment, the cable tie strap encircles the first outer surface of thecable encircling member and a second outer surface of the cableencircling member is in engagement with the conductors.

In its method aspect, the invention will be seen to provide a method forbundling conductors, comprising the steps of:

-   -   (a) providing a cable tie having a head and a strap extending        from the head to a strap free end;    -   (b) providing a cable encircling member having a width exceeding        a width of the cable tie strap;    -   (c) assembling the cable tie and the cable encircling member        such that the cable tie strap overlies a first outer surface of        the cable encircling member;    -   (d) forming the cable encircling member into a spiral coil        interiorly of the cable tie and encircling the conductors.

Various changes to the particularly depicted embodiments and practicesof the invention may be introduced without departing from the scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, it is to be appreciated that theparticularly disclosed embodiments are intended in an illustrative, andnot in a limiting, sense. The true spirit and scope of the invention isset forth in the ensuing claims.

1. Apparatus for bundling conductors, comprising: (a) a cable tie havinga head and a strap extending from the head to a strap free end; and (b)a cable encircling member having a width exceeding a width of said cabletie strap, said cable tie being assembled with said cable encirclingmember and forming said cable encircling member into a spiral coilinteriorly of said cable tie and encircling said conductors.
 2. Theapparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein said cable encircling memberdefines an aperture extending between first and second outer surfaces ofsaid cable encircling member, said cable tie strap being resident insaid aperture.
 3. The apparatus claimed in claim 2, wherein said cabletie strap encircles said second outer surface of said cable encirclingmember and wherein said first outer surface is in engagement with saidconductors.
 4. The apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein said cableencircling member defines a passage extending along a first outersurface of said cable encircling member, said cable tie strap beingresident in said passage.
 5. The apparatus claimed in claim 4, whereinsaid cable tie strap encircles said first outer surface of said cableencircling member and wherein a second outer surface of said cableencircling member is in engagement with said conductors.
 6. A method forbundling conductors, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a cable tiehaving a head and a strap extending from the head to a strap free end;(b) providing a cable encircling member having a width exceeding a widthof said cable tie strap; (c) assembling said cable tie and said cableencircling member such that said cable tie strap overlies a first outersurface of said cable encircling member; (d) forming said cableencircling member into a spiral coil interiorly of said cable tie andencircling said conductors.
 7. The method claimed in claim 6, whereinsaid step (c) is practiced by providing an aperture extending betweensaid first and a second surface of said cable encircling member andinserting said strap free end into said aperture.
 8. The method claimedin claim 6, wherein said step (c) is practiced by providing a passageextending along one of said first and a second surface of said cableencircling member and inserting said strap free end into said passage.